Travelbugs Mobile Mini-beasts: Basic ID & Classification

Description:

What is it? How can I identify this animal I found? This workshop looks at simple techniques that students (and teachers) can use to identify common animal species, with a particular focus on 'invertebrates'. How many legs does it have? How many body parts does it have? Does it have fins, fur, feathers or something else?

Students are given an exciting hands-on experience with a variety of live harmless creatures, preserved specimens and biofacts. At every workshop, weexhibit a wide variety of live invertebrate mini-beasts including various large and colourful species of stick insects, giant burrowing cockroaches, preying mantis, millipedes, centipedes, crickets, mealworms, scorpions, spiders, beetles and more and allow supervised handling of harmless mini-beasts and over 200 preserved biofacts including embedded and dried insects, shells, starfish, corals, sponges, sea urchin, eggs, egg cases, skins, wings, cocoons etc.

Jacqui Love, the presenter, has over 20 years experience in this field, including 10 years as a keeper at Taronga Zoo. This program was the recipient of the Frater Award for Excellence within the NSW DET Performances for Schools Program in 2004 and 2006.